How to Manage LOB Applications in Microsoft Teams?

Modern enterprises often require custom apps to manage their daily operations. These apps are more effective when information can be shared with other users within the organization. Microsoft Teams is an effective platform for integrating line of business (LOB) applications. The Microsoft Teams app store is designed for enterprises to upload their custom apps and distribute them within their organization. Applications can be uploaded using PowerShell cmdlets, Microsoft Graph APIs, or from the Teams client. In this article, we will explain how admins can manage LOB applications in Microsoft Teams.

What Are the Types of Apps That Can Be Added to Teams?

Microsoft Teams apps are combinations of different capabilities. While some applications can be used for simple tasks such as sending notifications, others are more complex and can be used for applications such as managing patient records. Here are some of the types of apps that can be used with Microsoft Teams.

• Personal applications

  Personal applications are designed to help people focus. These are typically dedicated spaces for people to work on their tasks or focus on activities important to them.

• Teams tabs

  Tabs can be added to Teams to help users collaborate more conveniently. Web-based content can be displayed in tabs, where people can discuss and work collaboratively.

• Automation bots

  Bots can be used to automate workflows within Teams. These can be used for generating orders, reviewing codes, ticket statuses, and automating other such tasks.

• Messaging and meeting extensions

  With messaging extensions, external information can be quickly shared in conversations. Similarly, meeting extensions enable users to take advantage of calling capabilities within the Teams interface.

• Webhooks and connectors for web services

  Webhooks and connectors help in communicating with external applications. While incoming webhooks can be used to send notifications to Teams channels, outgoing webhooks can be used to send messages to web services.

• Microsoft Graph API

  With Microsoft Graph API for Teams, information about teams, channels, users, and messages can be shared with apps to enhance their features and functionality.

How to Use LOB Applications with Teams?

Teams app and line of business apps can be added to Teams from the Teams panel. With this, enterprises can add experiences that are unique to their organization’s requirements.

Teams panel can be set up and managed from the Teams admin center. While end-users can view apps on the Teams panel, only admins can manage them from the Manage apps page. App permission policies and app setup policies can be used to configure the experience after setting up the apps.

Custom app policies can be set up specifically for Teams panels from Teams apps > Setup policies > Select or Create a new policy > Pinned apps. The order in which they appear can be managed from Pinned apps: Move-up/down after selecting the policy.

The setup policies have to be assigned to the room resource account that will be signed in to Microsoft Teams panels.

Apps4Rent Can Help with Microsoft Teams Deployment and Customization

While Microsoft Teams is a powerful platform, integrating line of business applications provides users extended capabilities. Users have a wider choice of tools and processes to collect information, work, and learn. As a Microsoft Gold Partner for Application Integration, Collaboration and Content, and several other competencies, Apps4Rent can help with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 licensing, deployment, and customization. Call, chat, or email our Microsoft-certified Teams specialists, available round-the-clock for assistance.